Germany’s Alexander Zverev has secured a historic breakthrough in his tennis career after guaranteeing his rise to the top of the men’s world rankings for the first time.
The 29-year-old achieved the milestone on Thursday, October 29, after defeating Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open in Austria.
Zverev’s victory confirmed that he will overtake Italy’s Jannik Sinner when the updated Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings are published on Monday, November 2.
The achievement marks a major moment for German tennis, with Zverev becoming only the second German man to reach the summit of the rankings, following former world number one Boris Becker, who attained the position in 1991.
A Remarkable Season for Zverev
Zverev’s rise to the top comes after an outstanding 2026 campaign, during which he claimed the French Open and US Open titles to secure the first two Grand Slam championships of his career.
His success at the majors has strengthened his position among the leading players in the sport and helped him secure the year-end number one ranking.
The German’s latest victory in Vienna also brought an end to the uncertainty surrounding when he would officially take over the top position, following Sinner’s decision to end his season early because of a knee injury.
Zverev had to overcome a difficult opening match against Spain’s Martin Landaluce, saving four match points before progressing. He subsequently delivered a more composed performance against Griekspoor to seal his place in the quarter-finals and confirm his historic achievement.
Joins an Exclusive Group
With the rankings first introduced in 1973, Zverev will become the 30th man to reach number one in the history of the ATP rankings.
At 29 years and six months, he will also become the second-oldest player to reach the top spot for the first time, behind Australian John Newcombe.
The milestone represents a remarkable turnaround for a player who previously came close to becoming world number one in 2022 before suffering a serious ankle injury during the French Open.
Zverev’s breakthrough has now added another landmark to a season that has transformed his career, with the German looking to maintain his momentum ahead of the ATP Finals in November.
His rise also reinforces Germany’s place in the history of men’s tennis, as the country celebrates another player reaching the highest position in the sport.
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